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With the imminent launch of the all-new BMW M3 sedan and M4 Coupé, the Bavarian company has released some technical details that the motoring world has been waiting for.
The first question that most of us want answer to is what sits under the car’s bonnet. We already know that it won’t be the current generation’s 309kW/400Nm naturally aspirated 4.0-litre V8 engine. The heart of the new M3 and M4 is a new 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline six producing “approximately” 316kW of power and 500Nm of torque that the company says is maintained over a very wide rev band. BMW stopped short of releasing acceleration figures though, so we’ll have to wait for closer to launch.
The new engine is the most powerful overall base production unit BMW has ever installed in the M3. It is also the first ever boosted engine to power the venerable sports sedan/coupé.
Despite rumours of the death of the manual gearbox, BMW has confirmed that the new M3 and M4 will be offered with a six-speed manual as standard, with a seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission available as an option.
In order to wind back the spiralling weight gain over the last few generations, the new M3 will be offered with a carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof, which up until now, was exclusive to the coupé model. Other weight reduction measures include revised gearbox (-12kg/-26.5 lbs) and the new wheel carriers and axle subframes (-5kg/-11 lbs). As a result, the M4’s kerb weight is now less than 1,500kg (3,307 pounds), around 80kg (176.4 lbs) lighter than a similarly equipped E92 M3 Coupé.
Other highlights include the use of Air Curtain and M gills with integrated Air Breather rearwards of the front wheels to minimise turbulence in the front wheels, electric power steering with three settings – COMFORT, SPORT and SPORT+, an aluminium suspension with optional Adaptive M suspension with the same three modes, and carbon ceramic brakes.
In their press release, the German marque said that racing works drivers, Bruno Spengler and Timo Glock, played a role in developing the M3 and M4 around the Nürburgring.
“Four generations of the BMW M3 have blended motor sport genes and uncompromised everyday usability within an emotionally rich overall concept,” said Friedrich Nitschke, President of BMW M GmbH.
“The BMW M3 and BMW M4 take motor sport technology from the track to the road, and thousands of laps of the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife – the world’s most demanding race track – have readied the new models for that transition. Meticulous and passion-fuelled development work has underpinned the creation of two high-performance sports cars that set new standards in terms of overall concept, precision and agility,” he added.
The new M3 Sedan and M4 Coupe are set to bow in early next year.
